A Distance Learning Dilemma: Keeping Special Education Students From Falling Behind

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A Distance Learning Dilemma: Keeping Special Education Students From Falling Behind

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Updated: 6:07 PM CDT Apr 24, 2020

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SOLEDAD: PROVIDING SPECIAL EDUCATION CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT IN THESE TIMES SOCIAL DISTANCING MAGNIFIES THOSE DIFFICULTIES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS, 7 MILLION CHILDREN RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. AND RIGHT NOW SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SERVICES THEY’RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THEIR STUDENTS. HOW DO SCHOOLS PROVIDE SPEECH, PHYSICAL THERAPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF THERAPY REMOTELY? OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ HAS MORE. JESSICA: SOLEDAD, MANY OF US ARE WORRIED OUR KIDS’ EDUCATION. ARE THEY GETTING WHAT THEY NEED BEFORE SCHOOLS REOPEN? BUT FOR THOSE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS WHOSE LIVES AND ROUTINES HAVE BEEN UPENDED, ACADEMIC PROGRESS ISN’T THE ONLY CONCERN. >> IT’S GOING FINE. JESSICA: 13-YEAR-OLD EVAN BONDIOLI, LIKE SO MANY KIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ADJUSTING TO HIS NEW VIRTUAL SCHOOL DAY. >> HOW HAS IT BEEN GOING ON YOUR WORK? JESSICA: BUT EVAN, WHO IS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, HAS EVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN HE DID JUST A MONTH AGO. BOTH PARENTS ARE PHARMACISTS AND WITH NO CHILDCARE NOW, THAT MEANS, SOME DAYS, HE AND HIS 9 YEAR-OLD BROTHER, ARE ON THEIR OWN. >> EVERYTHING CHANGES EVERY DAY. WE SIT DOWN IN THE MORNING LIKE A MORNING MEETING. JESSICA: ACCORDING TO EVAN, ITS’ WORKING. WITH ONE DOWNSIDE. >> NOT BEING ABLE TO REALLY SEE MY FRIENDS AS MUCH. >> FOR KIDS LIKE EVAN WITH AUTISM, THEY DO HAVE TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE SPEAKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER KIDS, INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, AND RIGHT NOW HE’S NOT GETTING THAT INTERACTION. >> IS A WEIRD ENERGY. IT IS NORMALLY SO FULL OF LIFE. JESSICA: SOCIALIZATION FOR KIDS WITH AUISM. PART OF WHY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER MARGARET FAIRBANKS AND HER HUSBAND MARK STARTED ISLANDS OF BRILLIANCE. THEIR SON HARRY, NOW 21 AND IN COLLEGE, IS ON THE SPECTRUM. >> WHAT WE DO IS CREATE A SPACE WHERE THEY FEEL WELCOME. JESSICA: TODAY, QUIET REMINDERS OF THE CREATIVITY USUALLY INSPIRED HERE. NORMALLY BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY, THE NONPROFIT OFFERS ART, DESIGN AND STEM WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM. EACH, PAIRED WITH A PROFESSIONAL MENTOR. >> WE ARE JUST KIND OF HANGING OUT AND DRAWING RIGHT NOW. JESSICA: THE FAIRBANKS, WITH HELP FROM THEIR OLDER SON CHARLIE AND MENTORS WORKING REMOTELY ARE NOW RUSHING TO CONNECT THEIR COMMUNITY OF KIDS, VIRTUALLY. >> CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME? JESSICA: OVERCOMING THE TECHNOLOGICAL BUGS SO THEY CAN DESIGN SOME REAL ONES. >> REGRESSION IS A HUGE FEAR. IF YOU’VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN COMMUNICATE, YOU CAN HAVE BACK-AND-FORTH TURN-TAKING, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE POLITE, SHARED CONVERSATION. IF YOU DON’T PRACTICE THAT SKILL, JUST LIKE ANYTHING, YOU LOSE THAT SKILL. >> I’M GOOD AT DRAWING THE BUMBLEBEE STRIPES. JESSICA: FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS, 6TH GRADER MORGAN KASE LOGGING ON FOR THE ISLANDS OF BRILLIANCE DOODLE CLASS, A WELCOME BREAK IN HER DAY. IT HELPS MOM KATHY AS WELL. >> SHE SEES ME NOT ONLY AS THE MOM, AS THE TEACHER, THE CAREGIVER, ALL DAY LONG. SO TO HAVE THAT TIME QUOTE UNQUOTE AWAY WITH HER FRIENDS, SOCIALIZING, HELPS US REGROUP. JESSICA: FOR KIDS LIKE MORGAN, HER MOM SAYS, A CONSISTENT ROUTINE IS IMPORTANT. >> THEY MAKE THEIR BEDS EVERY DAY, TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE GETTING READY FOR THE DAY , NOT JUST SLUMPING IN OUR PAJAMAS EVERY DAY. THERE ARE DAYS, BUT NOT EVERY DAY. JESSICA: THAT FLEXILITY AND STAYING ACTIVE, IS HELPING THE WHOLE FAMILY. >> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE JUST KIND OF MAKE A DECISION TO HAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH BE FIRST AND SCHOOL AND THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES. SECOND. THIS IS A LONG TIME, WE DON’T KNOW HOW LONG WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, MENTAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS FIRST. JESSICA: CREATING TOGETHER. MARGARET FAIRBANKS SAYS IT CAN HELP EASE THE ANXIETY SOME KIDS MAY BE FEELING. >> I HAD A PARENT SHARE WITH ME THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS DOING REALLY WELL, BUT NOW SHE’S AFRAID THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DIE. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM HOPE. AND SOME SENSE OF JOY AND A PLACE TO CONNECT. BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, IT’S A LOT HARDER. >> I WOULD SAY HE NEEDS TO DO THREE ASSIGNMENTS. JESSICA: DESPITE SOME FRUSTRATING DAYS FOR EVAN, HIS PARENTS SAY HE’S STEPPING UP. >> WITH MY PARENTS BEING PHARMACISTS, I UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR JOB IS REALLY IMPORTANT. >> IF NOTHING ELSE, THE KIDS WILL LEARN, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE GOOD OF A BAD SITUATION SO THERE ARE STILL LESSONS BEING LEARNED. JESSICA: FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ. SOLEDAD: SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE AS THEY NAVIGATE DISTANCE LEARNING. BUT MANY ARE STRUGGLING. SOME DISTRICTS HAVE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO WAIVE SOME REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE EQUAL ACCESS TO LEARNING, OR WHAT’S CALLED "EQUITABLE" LEARNING. THEY SAY IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW. EDUCATION SECRETARY BETSY DEVOS HAS UNTIL THE END OF APRIL TO

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A Distance Learning Dilemma: Keeping Special Education Students From Falling Behind

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Updated: 6:07 PM CDT Apr 24, 2020

As students across the country adjust to distance learning amid the coronavirus pandemic, some families are facing a much bigger challenge. Many special education students are now going without the speech, physical or occupational therapy they received at school. Correspondent Jessica Gomez speaks with parents who are struggling to make sure their children with learning disabilities don’t regress while away from the classroom.

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As students across the country adjust to distance learning amid the coronavirus pandemic, some families are facing a much bigger challenge. Many special education students are now going without the speech, physical or occupational therapy they received at school. Correspondent Jessica Gomez speaks with parents who are struggling to make sure their children with learning disabilities don’t regress while away from the classroom.